Zabawa celebrates Polish heritage in Erie with food, music, Polka Mass, more

"More food."

That's how Ray Luniewski, chairman of Zabawa , said the 2024 Polish festival will differ from past years at Erie's Holy Trinity Catholic Church.

In 2022, volunteers made 10,000 pierogi and they ran out before the end of the three-day festival. So in 2023, they upped it to 12,000. Those pierogi were all gone by the second night. This year, Luniewski said, there will be 15,000 farmer's-cheese-filled dough-wrapped dumplings grilled in butter and onions and sold for $3 each.

"They are all homemade, right there in the parish," Luniewski said.

Pierogi will be available this month along with other traditional Polish foods at Zabawa at Holy Trinity , 2220 Reed St. Here's what else to know before you go:

When is Zabawa

The annual Polish festival will take place Aug. 23, 5-10 p.m.; Aug. 24, noon-10 p.m.; and Aug. 25, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Luniewski said "Zabawa," loosely translated, means "to celebrate" or "to party."

Music and Masses

Scheduled performers include Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push with special guests Ryan Joseph and Dee Dee Ogrodny on Aug. 23, according to the festival page on the parish website. The Aug. 24 lineup will include KOSMIX, Mar-Vels and Dennis Polisky & the Maestro’s Men. The Aug. 25 entertainment will feature Frankie Liszka and Blue Magic, and DJ Ken Olowin.

More to come: Find out when and where Erie-area festivals will be held in 2024

KOSMIX with Ryan Joseph will provide music for the Polka Mass on Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. Luniewski said the music is still liturgical but is played on instruments such as an accordion instead of the church organ.

The Polish Heritage Mass on Aug. 25 at 10:30 a.m. is traditional and old-fashioned, with the kind of hymns that people grew up with, Luniewski said.

More to know

Admission to Zabawa is free.

Additional parking will be available in a lot at East 34th and Ash streets, with free shuttle service to and from the church grounds.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com .

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Zabawa celebrates Polish heritage in Erie with food, music, Polka Mass, more